I love BBQ season, for me summer only officially begins after we have had our first Barbecue! In this post I am sharing two of my favourite recipes - my buttery brioche burger buns and a zesty lemon & dijon chicken marinade.

My Foolproof Brioche Burger Buns

Making these has taught me that there really is a big difference between homemade and shop bought burger buns - this recipe is so easy and well worth the bit of extra effort.

You Will Need (Makes 6)

- 125ml Warm water

- 1 Teaspoon yeast

- 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons warm milk

- 1 Tablespoon golden caster sugar (normal works fine too if you don't have golden!)

- 300g Strong white bread flour

- 30g Butter

- 2 eggs, lightly whisked (one for the dough one for the egg wash!)

- 3/4 Teaspoon salt

Method:

- Begin by mixing together the warm water, yeast, milk and sugar together in a jug. Leave to stand for 5 minutes until the yeast is activated (the mixture will become frothy).

- In a large bowl mix together the flour and salt, then rub in your butter to form fine breadcrumbs.

- Make a well in the centre of the breadcrumb mixture and add in the yeast mixture along with one of your eggs.

- Mix the ingredients into a dough and knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes until the dough springs back when touched. (If the mixture feels too sticky simply add a little more flour).

- Place the dough back into a greased bowl, cover and leave to prove for a hour (or until doubled in size).

- After the dough has doubled in size, knock the air out and divide into 6 equal pieces. Shape each piece of dough into a round by folding it over itself a few times.

- Place the rolls onto a lined baking tray and leave to prove for a further hour.

- Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds, then bake in a 180oc oven for 20 minutes until golden.

Zesty Lemon and Dijon Chicken Marinade

Barbecue or not, this is my all time favourite chicken recipe - and its really versatile too! You can use whatever cut of chicken you prefer - whether its breast, drumsticks or even the whole bird, all of them work! Preferably you would leave the chicken to marinade overnight to get the best flavour, but this equally works if you want to make as a quick dinner too!

You will need:

- Chicken of your choice

- Zest of 3 lemons

- Juice of 3 lemons

- 4 cloves of garlic, crushed

- Big squeeze of runny honey

- big spoonful of dijon mustard

- 1 tablespoon dried thyme

- salt and pepper

- glug of good quality olive oil

Method:

- Place your chicken in a large tray and score the top lightly with a sharp knife. (If you are using chicken breast place in a freezer bag and bash with a rolling pin to flatten for a even cook)

- In a separate bowl, whisk together all your ingredients and taste to see if you need to add more honey/ mustard to your own taste.

- Pour the mixture over the chicken (along with any lemon cores you have), cover and leave to marinade overnight or at least a hour.

- BBQ until chargrilled or alternatively fry in a pan until golden and charred on the outside then cook off in a 180oc oven until cooked inside!